Using podcasts for readers’ advisory

September 30th is International Podcast Day and I think most people would agree that podcasts have exploded within the last few years. No matter what you're into, there's a podcast out there that caters to your interests, whether you long to be entertained, informed, scared, or intrigued.

Libraries and librarians have many opportunities to incorporate the popularity of podcasts into their programs, displays, and spaces. An easy way to tap into the podcast zeitgeist is to make a display based on a popular podcast: pull together some true crime books and documentaries for a "For Fans of My Favorite Murder" display (NoveList has a Recommended Reads list to get you started) or short story collections for those who adore The Moth podcast. And, if they haven't discovered them yet, a natural match would be to offer audiobooks to your podcast-listening clientele.

I'm a bit of a podcast junkie and listen to all types of content, but my favorites by far are the book-related podcasts (I even produced my own at my last job!) In addition to being entertaining, they have proven to be inordinately helpful in my Readers' Advisory work. Hearing other people discuss and recommend books helps to continuously refine how I think, write, and talk about books and reading. I could easily list off a dozen of book-related podcasts worth your attention, but a few of my favorites are:

Books on the Nightstand - the original, and much beloved, readerly podcast is no longer producing new episodes but has nearly 400 episodes available in their backlog

What Should I Read Next – Anne Bogel talks books with different guests each week and recommends titles based on what the guest has loved, hated, and what they're reading now. I've found myself talking back to the podcast when vehemently agreeing or disagreeing with her recommendations and every episode is an exercise in thinking about what I would recommend if this were my own RA interview.

The suite of Book Riot podcasts – I love these podcasts for staying on top of "what’s new and worth talking about in the world of books and reading."

The Librarian Is In – NYPL librarians Gwen Glazer and Frank Collerius host a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation on books, current events, library topics, and pop culture.

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